Egg-crate.



J. A. HILLIKER.

EGG CRATE, APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1908.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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EGG CRATE.

APPLIoATIoN FILED JULY 14, 190e.

915,294. Patenteamar. 16,1909.

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EGG CRATE.

APPLIOATIOH FILED JULY 14. 190B.

Patented Mar. 16, 1909.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

IINITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN A. HILLIKER, OF -CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

EGG-CRATE.

-v No. 915,294.

To all whmnit may concern: Y

Be it known that I, JOHN A. HILLIKER, .a citizen of the United States, residing at Chlcago, in the county of Cook and State of tac es containing the eggsfbe Illinois,y have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Egg-Crates, of which the fol owing is a s eciication.

This invention re ates to that class of packing and storing vessels designed for the handling of eggs, and has particular reference to iillers for egg crates having numerous eculiar advantages, as will hereinafter ful y appear'l For a proper and more successful handling of eggs 1t is essential that the eggs be not ings so arranged as to permit of can( lingl While the eggs are thus secured in ackages. It willbe understood that the pac rages re-l ferred to may be easily handled while premake use of egg cases or receptacles adapted venting contact of the hand with any of the eggs contained thereby. Furthermore, it is exceedingly important that all of the eggs, individually considered, shall be supported in some positive manner whereby the crate in which the packages or fillers are contained may be inverted and'yet insuring that every egg will be inverted likewise. It is Well vknown that in preserving eggs in'cold storage it is conducive to the best results if the eggs are turned from time to .'me to prevent settling. In crates having fil ers of ordinary types to invert the crate does not insure that the eg s will be likewise inverted.

A still further object of the present inven'.

tion is to support the individual eggs in Hexible cushions, and at the same time space them from the walls of the container so as to reduce possibility .of crushing to the minimum.

In carrying out the foregoing objects I to be used in connection with egg -crates of ordinary size, such cases or receptacles being made of a cheap quality of paste board or Specification of Letters Patent.

Application led July 14, 1908.

l other suitable materialwhich may be provided at a very low cost.

For a full understanding of the invention, including its construction and means for carying'out the foregoing and other objects, reference is to be hadto the following detail description and the accompanying drawings, inwhich- Figure 1 is a pers )ective view; Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional .iew on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of one of the brace members; Fig. 6 1s a plan view ofthe blank from which the case is made; Fig. 7 is a view of the blank from which each brace member is made; Fig. 8 is a 'plan view of a modilied form of egg case in open position ready to receive the eggs; Fig. -9 is a pers ective view of the modification shown in I* ig. 8 Fig. 10 is a transverse section on the line 10-1() of Fig. 9, showing the means for closing the same; Fig. 11 is a pers ective Lview of one of the brace members use in the modified construction, and Fig. 12 is a perspective view of another form of brace memxer.

.Throughout the following detail description and on the several figures of thedrawings similar parts are referred to by like and corresponding reference characters.

In carrying out this invention in its practical embodiment, I prefer to construct the case or filler essentially of a single blank, although it is to be understood that in many particulars the invention is well .adapted for more than al single blank may be employed.

Referring particularly to Fig. l wherein is illustrated an open case designed for the reception of one half dozen eggs, there is illustrated a device formed essentially from a single blank bent or folded laterally upon itself so as to form continuous side walls 10, 11, 12', and 13, the said Walls 11 and 13 being considered for convenience the bottom and top respectively of the case when closed. The side Walls being continuous from top to i bottom of the case constitute substantial braces tol prevent torsion or crushing strains from damaging the case and contents, and yet permitting of use of comparatively light and 'cheap stock. Again, said side Walls snugly embrace and strengthen the interior use in connection with structures wherein structure, hereinafter fully set forth. A ortion of one end of the said blank is fo ded laterally over upon the other portions and so bent on itself as to form a filler com rising two box-like s aced socket members W erein the ends of t e eggspre received'when the case is closed. One o said socket members is comprised of the blank portions 14, 15, and 17, the member 15 being flexible and havmg ya series of sockets 16 for the 4larger ends of the eggs. A spacing member or inner` wall 18 extends between the said socket members. The other socket member is composed of the blank members 1.9,- 20, and 22, the member 20 being flexible and being provided with a series of sockets 21 for the small ends of the eggs. It is preferred to construct the holes 16 and 21 of sizes diering in accordance with the difference in the diameters of the ends of the eggs so as to provide that the eggs will extend into the respective sockets substantially to the same extent and thereby space the eggs equally at both ends from the top and bottom of the case.' The blank member 22 may be notched if desired at 23 to provide an interlockfor the tongues 24 cut into the portion 10.

Any convenient or suitable means maybe provided for locking the case closed afterbeing filled. As herein shown the member 1() is provided with outwardly projecting tongues 25 adapted to enter slits 26 substantially at the line of connection between the ortions'13 and 14. After bein filled and lbeked the packer may ap ly a la el with his name and date, sealing t e receptacle, if he so desires.`

Thus far described and with reference to FiO'. 2 it will be seen that the eggs are spaced from one another and eachegg is not only supported in flexible cushioning members but it is spaced a sufficient distance from the top, bottom, and side walls of the container.

In addition to the holes or sockets 16 and 2,1 `for the reception ofthe eggs, the blank will'fbe provided with a number-of peep-holes 27 and 28 which register with the soc 'ets 16 and 21 respectively when the case is-open ready to be'iilled and which will all aline with the longer axes of the eggs when the case is closed. These peep-holes insure roper ventilation of the packed eggs,V and allso provide for a ready means forcandling the eggs while in the packages- If the material from which the cases are made is not sufficiently rigid, it may Abe desirable to provide internal bracing means, made of any suitable material. By the use of suitable bracing means the material from .which the main case is constructed may be comparatively light. The brace structure is of comparatively small size` and may be made of heavier material so as to provide suflicient rigidity for the receptacle. I 'preferably provide a brace member within and exten Jaccommodation of twelve eggs, but in all 'width of the connecting webs of the socket members to permit an ample amount of flexibility of the flexible portions of the socket members 15 and 21, thus, roviding for the accommodation of e'gs o varying sizes. The brace'member, oth as toits web and the bars strengthens the case and prevents any tendency to crush the eggs laterally.

In 'Fig 12 is illustrated a slightly modified form of the brace member wherein it is provided with lateral flanges 32 bent at ri ht angles to the main portion or web and which edge portions are cut from those portions of the brace which are ent over to form the bracebars. This form of the\device gives additional .bracing or .strengthening eect to\the lateral or connecting websV of the respective socket members. In all forms of the brace .members theyv may be secured temporarily in place by any convenient means. Asshown in this form of the invention there is a simple form of interlock between the outerv wall of the case and the brace member web. indicated at 31. The brace members will be provided with holes 32 which will aline with the corresponding 100 peep-holes of the casing.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 8 a case or receptacle is provided for the essential particulars this form corresponds to the form hereinbefore set forth. The' portions 10, 12, 14, 17, 18, 19, and 22, mentioned, correspond to the similar parts of the first structure. The portions 11, 1 3', 15', and 20, however, differ in having double the 110 number of sockets and peep-holes as the corresponding elements in the first structure. The flexible members 15 and 20 of the filler in this modification, being wider than in the smaller size, are each-'preferably reinforced 115 or braced -by being folded updon vitself centrally to provide a laterallyv integral longitudinal extending 7rib 33.v The brace members in the larger sized construction embody all of the features of the corresponding members of the smaller sized construction. The web, however, of this form is preferably crimped at an intermediate portion'as at 34 to provide not only additional rigidity in a transverse direction but also an additional means for temporarily securing it in place. In this form of the device the crimp 34 and the brace-bars 30 are all notched to interlockwith the rib 33, said rib being notched at 35,'

for this purpose. 13o

. within the scope of the claims hereinafter body of which is folded laterally to form inclosing top, bottoni, and continuous vertical4 said ller being composed of spacedwalls 5 members suitablyhinged each toeach and upon which the case in its open position is p aced preparatory to filling. The eggs being put into their sockets, preferably in the sockets 21, that portion of the closing device which lies beneath the empty socket member will be lifted bringing that latter mentioned member over upon the eggs already placed, after whichthe locking means for the case will be properly placed. 'It will thus be seen upon any portion of the case tending to d istort or'injure it during theiillingl operation.

Numerous modifications in detail construction in reference to the invention may be' resorted to Within the spirit thereof and made.

Having thus described the invention, what Y is claimed as new, is: 25

` 1. An egg case comprising a body, and a filler composed of e g sup orting members in said body, the si es oft e body and the egg sipporting members of the filler being r`forme continuous portions of a unitary blank fol ed in one direction. f

2. As an article of manufacture, an egg case com rising a blank folded upon itself to form inc osing sides, and having an integral portion folded additionall parallel with the sides an inclosed b said sides, said box folds being spaced an comprising-pn egg supporting filler.

3. eg case consisting of a blank the body of which is folded laterally to form continuous inclosing bracing Walls of an egg compartment, and a portion of which is folded upon the body to form aiiller in said compartment, said filler being composed of spaced walls )rovided with egg receiving seats.

n egg-case consisting of a blank the bracing side walls of an egg compartment, and a portion of whichV is folded upon the body to vform a filler in said compartment,

provided with openings forming seats for the Y eggs, and the adiacent top and bottom of the case having openings in line with those of the filler, for the purposes set forth.

5. An egg oase consisting of a blank thebody of which is folded latei'allyto form inclosing top, bottom, and bracing side walls of an eO'g compartment, and a portion of which is folded upon the body to form a filler, said filler being com rised of box folds in a ortion of the blank), the outer sides of said ox folds being arranged in spaced relation to form egg supporting walls iand having seats.

that no pressure is brought by the hands into box folds i for the eggs, the sides of the box folds extending to the top and bottomV of the case against said bracing side walls and forming spacing elements for maintaining the egg supporting walls in proper relation.`

6. An egg case coisting of a blank the bodyk of which yis folded to form inclosing Walls of an egg compartment, and a portion of which is folded upon the body to form a fillerin said com artment, said filler being composed of space walls provided with egg receiving seats, and auxiliary members in the case constituting longitudinal andv transverse braces therefor. V

7. An egg case consisting of a blank the `body of Awhich is folded to form inclosing walls of an egg compartment, and a portion of which is folded upon the body to form a filler, said filler being comprised of box folds in a portion of the blank, the outer sides of said box folds being arranged in spaced relation to form egg supporting walls and having seats for the eggs, and brace members between the sides of the box folds serving to prevent lateral crushing of the case. V

8. An egg case consisting of a blank the bod of which is folded to form inclos'ing wal s of an egg compartment, and a portion of which is fo ded upon the-body to form a filler, said filler being comprised of box folds in a ortion of the blank, the outer sides of said box folds being arranged in spaced relation to form egg supporting walls and having seats for`the eggs, and brace members between thesides of the box folds and having end reinforcements formed by bendin the ends thereof upon themselves and inter ockingthem with the bodies of the said members.

9. An egg case comprising a shell and a filler within the shell serving to support the eggs in upri ht position and s' aced from one another an from the walls o the shell, said filler including iiexible members having spaced egg sockets, each of said flexible members being provided with a longitudinal strengthening rib, and a brace member cooperating with each of said longitudinal ribs from side to side ofand serving to prevent crushing of the case t and contents.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

` JOHN A. HILLIKER. Witnesses:

Tnos. M. DILL, J. W. Bicxronn 

